The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to retain its national chairmanship position in the North.
According to Punch, this followed the recommendation of the zoning committee headed by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, that all 19 national offices of the party in each region should remain as presently constituted.
The committee’s report is expected to be submitted and ratified at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP on Monday (tomorrow).
While inaugurating the committee, Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, stated that the panel was established to ensure fairness in the allocation of National Working Committee (NWC) offices.
He explained that the recommendations would not only determine the distribution of party positions but could also influence which geopolitical zone may clinch the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Naijaonpoint understands that zoning has historically shaped the PDP’s power-sharing arrangements, including its presidential ticket.
The party only recently emerged from a crisis ahead of the 2023 polls when five governors, led by then-Rivers State Governor, now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, opposed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy.
Although a committee chaired by then-Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had thrown the ticket open, the dissenters insisted the South should have produced the flag bearer after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office.
The rift eventually led to the removal of National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu. Damagum, from Yobe State, was appointed Acting Chairman on March 28, 2023.
A principal party official, privy to Thursday’s Southern Zoning Consultative Summit in Lagos, told Sunday Punch that leaders unanimously agreed to maintain the status quo.
“They have decided that positions in the North should remain in the North. At this point, when the party is working to unite, it would be cumbersome to start reassigning offices.
“What we decided is to let whatever is in a region remain there. Positions in the South stay in the South, and those in the North remain in the North,” he said.
The official confirmed that the chairmanship would remain in the North but declined to say if the presidential ticket would be zoned to the South in 2027.
“I think it is possible, but we have not made a decision on that. I pray so,” he added.
Another party source disclosed that many stakeholders were rooting for former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Dr Jerry Gana, to emerge as the next PDP chairman.
“I can confirm that the next PDP chairman will come from the North. Let me add that many of our leaders and stakeholders are rooting for Jerry Gana. We are hopeful it works out,” the chieftain said.
Gana, who hails from the Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State, served as minister between 2001 and 2003.
Meanwhile, the South-West Chairman of the PDP, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, who attended the Lagos meeting, declined to speak on the zoning matter.
“The zoning committee briefed us on their recommendation, but I can’t speak on it for now. Wait till Monday,” he told Sunday Punch.
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